Chapter 38: Meeting a Distinguished Guest at the Ancient Temple

The Qingming Festival had passed, and Guyu was fast approaching.

This was the busiest season for spring plowing. Farmers in the fields were busy sowing and transplanting rice seedlings, looking forward to a year of abundant harvest.

In recent years, the region between the Yellow River and the Luo River had enjoyed favorable weather and good harvests. However, due to Emperor Yang of Sui's excessive conscription of corvée labor, lands in certain areas had gone to waste, and refugees had subsequently appeared. The solid foundation established in the twentieth year of the Kaihuang era was beginning to rot slowly. Yet, during this period, such decay was not particularly obvious, at least on the surface, where everything still presented a scene of prosperity.

Yanqing rode on the back of his jade-hoofed steed, moving slowly with the caravan.

Looking at the prosperous and beautiful scenery before him, he sighed inwardly: Who would have thought that in just a few short years, an empire would collapse so suddenly?

The caravan's pace was not fast. After bypassing the Hanshui Pass, they headed straight toward Yanshi.

The weather had been fine, but by afternoon, dense dark clouds began to gather in the sky, rolling in from the horizon.

The sun disappeared, and the faint sound of thunder echoed through the dark clouds.

Pei Zi urged his horse forward to the side of Zheng Yanqing. "Master Zheng, judging by the look of it, a thunderstorm is likely on the way. Should we look for a place to shelter ahead?"

Yanqing raised his head and surveyed the sky.

"With neither a village ahead nor a shop behind, where are we supposed to find shelter?"

"Once we pass the hills ahead, we will be within the boundaries of Mount Shouyang. To the southwest is Yanshi County. But the journey is long, and if it starts raining midway, we might not reach Yanshi by nightfall. To the northwest, about two or three miles away, there is a place. When the old master Pei and I headed to Jiangdu years ago, we passed by there. I remember an ancient temple; though dilapidated, it can keep out the wind and rain."

"Since that's the case, let's head to the ancient temple for shelter."

Since it was only two or three miles out of the way, Zheng Yanqing did not take it to heart.

Thunderstorms at this time of year were fierce, and it was best to find a place to hide so as not to end up drenched like a drowned rat.

Therefore, Zheng Yanqing instructed Pei Zi to take three or four men to scout ahead, and he also ordered the caravan to quicken its pace.

Two horses came galloping from the opposite direction, their riders brushing past the caravan without any interaction.

Zheng Yanqing paid no attention to them. After the caravan passed through the hilly region, Pei Zi sent word back that the ancient temple was still there, completely empty, and just right for taking shelter from the wind and rain.

"Everyone, pick up the pace. Looking at the sky, the thunderstorm will be here soon."

Zheng Yanqing continuously urged the horses and carts to speed up. The sound of thunder in the dark clouds grew sharper and clearer. The clouds were thick and lowering, and one could vaguely see silver light flashing incessantly within them, intensifying the oppressive aura of the impending rain.

As they turned at a fork in the road, a single horseman flashed past the side of the caravan.

Shen Guang was a veteran of the pugilistic world, and seeing this sight, his brows involuntarily furrowed.

"Young Master!"

He called out from inside the carriage, and Yanqing rode his horse over.

Because Shen Guang had suffered severe injuries to his hands, he was unable to ride a horse and had to travel by carriage. Originally, Yanqing's intention was for him to heal his injuries in Xingyang and then return to Luoyang together with Zheng Shi'an. But Shen Guang had disagreed. Later, Zheng Yanqing thought that the conditions in Luoyang were much better than those in Xingyang, and there were famous physicians on hand with no shortage of various medicines. Once Shen Guang returned, he could recuperate peacefully in the Bamboo Garden, which would presumably make his recovery much more convenient.

Therefore, Zheng Yanqing brought Shen Guang back with him.

"Young Master, something doesn't feel quite right."

"What is it?"

Shen Guang said, "The single horseman who just passed us is one of the two riders we met heading in the opposite direction when we were on the main road. Although that fellow wore his outer garment inside out and changed his attire, I can still recognize him. This is a common tactic used in the greenwoods... Young Master, you must be careful. I'm afraid we've been targeted by bandits."

Targeted by bandits?

Yanqing felt a thrill of unease... He had indeed heard that over the past two years, the region between the Yellow River and the Luo River had not been entirely peaceful. Especially last year, with the massive public works projects to dredge the Tongji Canal, refugees had appeared across the region. While some law-abiding folk sought alternative livelihoods or turned to relatives for help, others, bolder and more desperate, simply gathered together and took up banditry.

Further ahead lay the territory of Yanshi.

Zheng Yanqing hesitated, wondering whether they should brave the rain and press on to Yanshi. Suddenly, he heard a loud crack of thunder, followed instantly by a torrential downpour. The raindrops, initially the size of grains of rice, quickly grew heavier and denser. The ice-cold raindrops lashed against his face with a stinging pain... In the blink of an eye, wherever he looked, ahead and behind, left and right, was a vast, blurry curtain of rain, making it impossible to see the road clearly.

"Tell everyone to quicken their pace and take shelter in the ancient temple."

In such a torrential downpour, let alone traveling, even walking had become difficult.

If they were to continue toward Yanshi, they would inevitably have to circle around Mount Shouyang, which was truly inconvenient... It wasn't that he disbelieved Shen Guang's words, but he felt that with so many people in their party—dozens of servants and martial retainers—would ordinary bandits dare to attack them?

He had never heard of large-scale bandit gangs operating openly in this region.

"Let's go to the ancient temple to take shelter first and wait until the rain stops. In this damned weather, I reckon the bandits won't be out doing business either. Damn it, this wretched weather... It was fine this morning, how did it change its face so abruptly?"

Shen Guang could only smile bitterly and nod in agreement.

He knew well that traveling in such weather could easily lead to even greater danger.

Thus, the caravan hurried toward the ancient temple Pei Zi had mentioned. It was a temple whose founding year was unknown, long since abandoned and thoroughly dilapidated. Part of the outer courtyard wall had collapsed, and within the grounds stood a Grand Hall and a dozen ruined side rooms. It had been dedicated to a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva... However, due to long years of disrepair, the gold leaf on the statue had long since peeled off, leaving it mottled and scarred.

Pei Zi had already ordered his men to sweep the Grand Hall and found dozens of thick, arm-sized red candles inside the hall.

The bright candle flames swept away the gloomy and chilling atmosphere of the hall.

Zheng Yanqing had Mao Xiaonian and Shen Guang go inside first, then directed his men to unhitch the carriages and gather the horses in one place.

The ancient temple must have been quite large originally, as they found a stable area.

Naturally, the jade-hoofed steed would not stay with the other horses; Zheng Yanqing tied it just outside the porch of the Grand Hall.

By now, the rain was growing heavier.

Rainwater had already begun to leak through the roof of the ancient temple's main hall.

The water trickled down along the walls and pillars, pooling into puddles on the uneven ground. Fortunately, there was no strong draft, so it didn't feel overly cold. Zheng Yanqing had the three brothers of the Dang family direct everyone to settle down in the side rooms and outside the porches, telling some to set up pots for cooking and others to clean the rooms.

Shen Guang still felt uneasy and softly reminded him, "Young Master, you'd better be careful and check the surroundings."

Zheng Yanqing didn't think Shen Guang was being naggy, so he took some men and walked around the ancient temple.

In a narrow alley behind the Grand Hall, they found a well, but the water had long since dried up. Aside from that, the gable walls had a few collapses, and Yanqing thought for a moment before having the carriages pushed over to block the gaps in the wall.

"Young Master, although this place is somewhat desolate, we've never heard of any bandits here. Aren't we being a bit too cautious?"

Pei Zi could not help asking.

Zheng Yanqing replied, "Caution is the parent of safety. Shen Guang spotted a scout on the road and fears we've been targeted by heroes of the greenwood. Even if that's not necessarily true, when traveling far from home, an extra bit of caution is always a good thing."

A scout was underworld slang in the Sui and Tang dynasties for a spy or informant.

Though Pei Zi felt Shen Guang was being overly careful, once Zheng Yanqing put it this way, he figured caution could do no harm.

So he accompanied Zheng Yanqing on a tour, making arrangements for all the places that required attention.

Then the two returned to the Guanyin Hall to find that Shen Guang and Mao Xiaonian had already lit a bonfire and were cooking food.

"Young Master, how is the situation?"

"Looks alright. If trouble really comes, I expect we can hold them off for a while."

"Young Master, are we in trouble?" Mao Xiaonian raised her head and asked in surprise.

Zheng Yanqing walked over and sat down beside her.

The two little mastiffs immediately pounced forward, frolicking with him. Playing with the small mastiffs while adopting a casual tone, Yanqing said, "No trouble... In broad daylight—well, it's not broad daylight now, we can't see the sun—Xiaonian, we are in trouble."

Shen Guang chuckled aloud.

Mao Xiaonian blushed and softly muttered, "Young Master, you're teasing me again."

"All right, be a good girl and make dinner, I'm starving."

"Mm!"

Mao Xiaonian acknowledged and lowered her head to continue cooking.

Zheng Yanqing and Shen Guang walked to the entrance of the Guanyin Hall, watching the rainwater stream down the eaves tiles like strings of pearls.

"This damn rain, who knows when it'll stop."

Zheng Yanqing cursed under his breath, stepped out of the hall threshold, and stood on the porch steps to gaze into the distance. One of the temple gates was missing, while the other hung crookedly, swaying precariously in the wind.

Shen Guang looked up at the downpour. "Young Master, it looks like we might have to spend the night here today."

"If the rain doesn't let up by nightfall, we'll have no other choice."

As if recalling something, Zheng Yanqing said, "Right, go tell Dang and the others to get their arrows ready."

"Understood!"

Shen Guang bowed and hurried off.

Yanqing stood at the entrance of the hall, frowning slightly as he watched the unceasing rain.

Suddenly, the two little mastiffs let out a furious bark, howling incessantly at the rain curtain outside. Following closely, the sound of hoofbeats reached them. Zheng Yanqing felt a jolt in his chest—had those scouts actually tracked them here? He quickly shouted a warning and instinctively drew his cross-hilted treasured saber from the saddlebag.

Two horses charged through the heavy rain into the ancient temple.

In an instant, the Zheng family retainers stationed along the surrounding porches either drew their bows and nocked arrows or gripped their weapons.

The two horsemen were startled by the scene before them. Imagine having a dozen bows aimed at you and a group of armed men staring you down—how could one not be terrified? One of the riders instinctively reached out to draw his weapon.

The rider beside him quickly grabbed his arm. "Xie Ke, do not act rashly."

He spread both hands on his horse to signal he meant no harm. "I am Xie Hong, a scion of the Yangxia Xie clan. My young nephew Xie Ke and I were traveling when we were caught in a sudden rainstorm, so we came here for shelter with no other intentions. Fellow heroes, please harbor no misunderstandings."